Eastleigh sign Jamie Collins
Eastleigh Football Club are delighted to announce the capture of the signature of midfielder Jamie Collins from Conference Premier League side Forest Green Rovers.
Midfielder Jamie Collins has agreed to join Eastleigh FC after having his contract at Forest Green Rovers terminated by mutual consent.
The 28-year-old, who lives with his young family in Hertfordshire, has struggled with a daily commute of almost 300 miles in the round-trip to Nailsworth.
By joining former Rovers defender Chris Todd at Eastleigh, Collins will move to Eastleigh Football Club allowing shorter travelling times.
Forest Green Rovers manager David Hockaday said: "Jamie had the longest commute of any player in a Rovers shirt and would spend 5 or 6 hours a day in the car, sometimes five days a week.
"On behalf of myself, the chairman, the players and the club, we wish Jamie all the best and know the Eastleigh have acquired a player that can help them win promotion this coming season."
Collins arrived at Forest Green from League Two side Aldershot Town as a deadline day signing in January 2012. A solid defensive midfielder, Collins had previously worked with Forest Green manager Dave Hockaday in the youth setup at Watford, before joining non-league Havant & Waterlooville in February 2005.
It was at Havant that Jamie excelled and became a real fans' favourite making over 150 league appearances in a four year spell that saw him handed the captaincy. And it was as captain that Jamie was part of the Havant & Waterlooville side that gave Premier League giants Liverpool a scare in the FA Cup fourth round at Anfield in front of over 42,000 fans in a cup run that saw the Blue Square South side knock Swansea City and Notts County out of the competition.
Jamie left Havant for a brief spell at Hampton & Richmond Borough before moving to Newport County where he was part of the Welsh clubs' side that earned promotion to the top flight of non-league football as Blue Square South champions.
After two years at Spytty Park, Jamie followed former manager Dean Holdsworth to Football League side Aldershot where he played in the Football League side's Carling Cup third round clash with Manchester United.
The opportunity to work with Dave Hockaday again when Rovers came calling in January 2012 was enough for Jamie to step back down into the non-league game and he signed an 18 month contract on his arrival at the club, bagging a brace from midfield in an away game against Kettering in just his second appearance for the club. Collins played 35 times for Forest Green, scoring 3 goals and claiming four Man-of-the-Match awards.
Eastleigh manager Richard Hill delighted with his first summer acquisition advised ".Jamie’s signature is the sign of the quality of player we are trying to bring to the Club being what we believe is a Conference Premier League player.
"Jamie also fits the criteria of being able to play in a couple of positions which I believe is very important at this level."
Midfielder Jamie Collins has agreed to join Eastleigh FC after having his contract at Forest Green Rovers terminated by mutual consent.
The 28-year-old, who lives with his young family in Hertfordshire, has struggled with a daily commute of almost 300 miles in the round-trip to Nailsworth.
By joining former Rovers defender Chris Todd at Eastleigh, Collins will move to Eastleigh Football Club allowing shorter travelling times.
Forest Green Rovers manager David Hockaday said: "Jamie had the longest commute of any player in a Rovers shirt and would spend 5 or 6 hours a day in the car, sometimes five days a week.
"On behalf of myself, the chairman, the players and the club, we wish Jamie all the best and know the Eastleigh have acquired a player that can help them win promotion this coming season."
Collins arrived at Forest Green from League Two side Aldershot Town as a deadline day signing in January 2012. A solid defensive midfielder, Collins had previously worked with Forest Green manager Dave Hockaday in the youth setup at Watford, before joining non-league Havant & Waterlooville in February 2005.
It was at Havant that Jamie excelled and became a real fans' favourite making over 150 league appearances in a four year spell that saw him handed the captaincy. And it was as captain that Jamie was part of the Havant & Waterlooville side that gave Premier League giants Liverpool a scare in the FA Cup fourth round at Anfield in front of over 42,000 fans in a cup run that saw the Blue Square South side knock Swansea City and Notts County out of the competition.
Jamie left Havant for a brief spell at Hampton & Richmond Borough before moving to Newport County where he was part of the Welsh clubs' side that earned promotion to the top flight of non-league football as Blue Square South champions.
After two years at Spytty Park, Jamie followed former manager Dean Holdsworth to Football League side Aldershot where he played in the Football League side's Carling Cup third round clash with Manchester United.
The opportunity to work with Dave Hockaday again when Rovers came calling in January 2012 was enough for Jamie to step back down into the non-league game and he signed an 18 month contract on his arrival at the club, bagging a brace from midfield in an away game against Kettering in just his second appearance for the club. Collins played 35 times for Forest Green, scoring 3 goals and claiming four Man-of-the-Match awards.
Eastleigh manager Richard Hill delighted with his first summer acquisition advised ".Jamie’s signature is the sign of the quality of player we are trying to bring to the Club being what we believe is a Conference Premier League player.
"Jamie also fits the criteria of being able to play in a couple of positions which I believe is very important at this level."
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